Regulating system



1940- R. TROGER 2,186,847

REGULATING SYSTEM Filed June 2, 1937 Inventor: Richard Triger,

His Attorney.

a... Jul. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES BEGULATING SYSTEM Richard Triiler, Bcrlin-Zehlendorf-Mitte, Germany, assignmto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 2, 1937, Serial No. 146,096 'In Germany June 11, 1936 12 Claims. (01. 171 119) My invention relates to electric control systems and more particularly to electric regulating systems i'or dynamo-electric machines. In control or regulating systems for dynamo- 5 electric machines, it is desirable to control accurately the excitation of the machines in accordance with certain predetermined conditions, such as the voltage of the machines, without employing complicated and expensive auxiliary control equipment. There are many applica-' tions in which it is expedient to employ only those excitation circuits which are entirely electrical in nature and operation and which are devoid of any mechanical moving parts. A further desirable feature in regulating systems of this nature is the adaptability of these arrangements for stabilizing the regulating action of the system to prevent wide variations in the electrical quantity or operating condition to be maintained. More specifically, in order to utilize the full advantages incident to the use of regulating system entirely electrical in nature and operation, it is important to provide stabilizing means to maintain the electrical condition to be regulated within predetermined narrowly defined limits. Furthermore, it has been found that these stabilizing or anti-hunting arrangements must be capable of responding within very short intervals of time to modify the efiect of the regulating elements of the system which tend to compensate for rapidly varying load conditions.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved regulating system. It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved regulating system for dynamo-electric machines.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a new and improved electric valve regulating system for dynamo-electric machines of the synchronous type.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a new and improved stabilizing system for electric valve regulating apparatus.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide an electric valve regulating system for controlling the excitation of the field circuit of a dynamo-electric machine of the synchronous type in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition, such as the current of the armature winding, of the machine. More particularly, the excitation circuit comprises a self-excited alternating current generator of the synchronous type which supplies direct current to the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine through electric valve apparatus. The electric valve apparatus includes discharge paths the conductivities of which are controlled by control members. The voltage of the self-excited synchronous gen- 5 erator, and hence the excitation of the main dynamo-electric machine, are controlled by a variable impedance inductive device which is connected across an armature winding of the selfexcited synchronous generator and which ab- 10 sorbs variable amounts of lagging quadrature current in accordance with the armature current of the dynamo-electric machin'e. The variable impedance inductive device includes a core member, a winding which is connected across the 15 armature winding of the self-excited generator, a control winding which tends to saturate the core member and is energized in accprdance with the voltage of the self-excited generator and a second control winding opposing the eflect of 20 the first control winding and which is energized in accordance with the armature current of the dynamo-electric machine. A stabilizing circuit is employed to energize the control members of the electric valve to control the conductivity 25 thereof to prevent hunting and hence tocontrol the energization of the field winding of the main dynamo-electric machine to maintain the armature voltage thereof within narrowly defined limits under varying load conditions. The sta- 30 bilizing circuit includes a saturable transformer for impressing on the control members alternating voltages variable in phase and an impedance element for impressing on the control members a negative unidirectional biasing poten- 35 tial which also assists in the control of the electric valve means. The stabilizing. circuit also includes a transformer and a unidirectional conducting device which energize the impedance element and control the saturable transformer to control the conductivity of the electric valve means in accordance with the voltage impressed thereacross. I

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description 5 taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. Fig. 1 of the drawing diagrammatically represents an embodiment of my invention as applied to a dynamo-electric ma- 5o chine of the synchronous type, and Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows that part of my invention as directed to the stabilizing circuit for controlling the action of the regulating system shown in Fig. 1. u

Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, my invention is diagrammatically shown as applied to an excitation system for a dynamoelectric machine I of the synchronous type having an armature winding 2 and a field winding 3. Although my invention is not limited thereto, I have chosen to represent my invention as applied to a dynamo-electric machine of the synchronous type which is operating as a generator driven by a suitable prime mover 4. An alternating current circuit 5 is connected to the armature windings 2 of machine I.

An excitation system for the dynamo-electric machine includes a self-excited synchronous alternating current generator 6 having an armature winding 1 provided with a neutral connection 8 and a field winding 9. The self-excited generator 6 may be arranged to be driven by the prime mover 4 and the field structure of generator 6' may be mounted on the same shaft with the field structure of the dynamo-electric machine I. To supply direct current to the field winding 8 of generator 6 and to supply direct current to the field winding 3 of dynamo-electric machine I, I employ an electric valve means I0 having anodes and I2 and a cathode l3. The electric valve means l0 may be of the type employing an ionizable medium, such as a gas or a. vapor, and may include an auxiliary anode l2. Anodes II and I2 are connected to the terminals of armature winding 1 through conductors I4 and I5 and the auxiliary anode I2 is connected to the neutral connection 8 of armature winding 1 through a conductor I6 and. a current limiting resistance Cathode I3 is connected to the field circuits for dynamo-electric machine and generator 6 through a conductor I8 and resistance IS. A switch 2|] may be interposed between the excitation system and the field windings 3 and 9. A capacitance 2| is connected across the terminals of armature windings 'l of the self-excited generator 6 to consume a leading quadrature current from the generator 6, thereby establishing in the generator 6 a magnetomotive force which tends to assist the field magnetomotive force provided by field winding 9.

To control the voltage of the synchronous generator 6 and hence to control the energization of the field winding 3 of dynamo-electric machine I in accordance with a predetermined controlling influence of the machine I, such as the armature current thereof,.I provide a variable impedance inductive device 22 having a core member 22, a winding 23 connected across armature winding 1 of generator 6 and having control windings 24 and 25. The control windings 24 and 25 establish opposing magnetomotive forces which act on the core member 22'; and the control winding 24 is energized in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition such as the armature voltage of the generator 6. The control'winding 24 tends to saturate core member 22' and the energization of control winding 24 is efiected through a unidirectional conducting device 26 and a serially connected adjustable current controlling resistance 21. The energization of the control winding 25 is controlled in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition, such as the armature current, of machine I. A suitable inductive device, such as a current transformer 28 having a primary winding 29 and a secondary winding 30, supplies a voltage which varies in accordance with the armature current of machine I and effects energization of control winding 25 through a unidirectional conducting device 3| and an adjustable current controlling resistance 32. A resistance 29' may be connected across the primary winding .of current transformer 29 to limit the voltage impressed thereacross.

The operation ofthe embodiment of my invention diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 will be explalned when the dynamo-electric machine is operating as a synchronous generator to transmit energy to the alternating current circuit 5 and when the excitation system including the self-excited synchronous generator 6 is operating to control the energization of field winding 3 of machine I in accordance with a predetermined condition such as the armature current of machine I to maintain the armature voltage thereof substantially constant. As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, direct current will be supplied to primary winding 3 of machine quadrature current absorbed by the capacitance 2| establishes a magnetomotive force tending to assist that due to field winding '9, and during the initiating stage of the building up of the excitation of generator 6 the residual magnetism of the field structure of generator 6 and the assisting action of capacitance 2| will increase the armature voltage to a value sufiicient to initiate discharges within the electric valve means III to supply direct current to field winding 9 of generator 6 and to field winding 3 of dynamo-electric machine I. It is also to be noted that the lagging quadrature current consumed by the variable inductive device 22 tends to-establish a magnetomotive force opposing that due to the field winding 9 of generator 6, but during the starting operation when the armature voltage of the generator 6 is small the energization of control winding 24 will be correspondingly small so that the lagging quadrature current consumed by winding 23 will not be appreciable.

The energization of the field winding 3 of dynamo-electric machine and hence the armature voltage of machine I will be controlled in accordance with the energy transmitted to the alternating current circuit 5 by the machine I. The variable impedance inductive device 22 will absorb variable amounts of lagging quadrature current from the armature winding 1 of synchron'ous generator 6 to control the armature voltage thereof in accordance with the current transmitted by the dynamo-electric machine to circuit 5. Resistance 21 is adjusted so that the effect of control winding 24 is normally predominating to cause saturation of core member 22' and resistance 32 is adjusted so that control winding 25 furnishes an opposing magnetomotive force of somewhat lesser value than that provided by control winding 24. Let it be assumed that the excitation system is arranged to maintain the armature voltage of the dynamo-electric machine at a substantially constant value and furthermore let it be assumed that the load or armature current of the machine temporarily increases. As

a result of this increase in armature current, the voltage supplied by the current transformer 28 will also increase to efiect an increase in the energization of control winding 25, thereby decreasa sthedesreeofsaturaticnoftheecremembcr 22' of the inductive device 22. Under thisv con-- dition, winding 23 will absorb a smaller amount of lagging quadrature current from the armature winding 1 of generator 3 and the armature voltincrease in the saturation or magnetization of the core member 22' of inductive device 2| to cause winding 23 to absorb a larger amount of lagging quadrature current from armature winding 1 of generator 6. This increase in lagging quadrature current will eflfect a reduction in the armature voltage of generator 3 and will thereby reduce the voltage impressed on electric valve means ID to decrease the excitation of dynamoelectric machine I to restore the armature terminal voltage thereof to the predetermined value to be maintained.

The variable impedance inductive device 22. not only effects control of the armature voltage of the generator 6 to control the excitation of the field winding 3 of dynamo-electric machine I but this variable impedance device also responds in a manner to prevent hunting of thesystem and to stabilize the regulation thereof. More specifically, since the variable impedance inductive device 22 is operated within the saturated region of the magnetic core structure 22, the compensating voltage variations of the generator 5 are maintained within a predetermined range of variations during the regulating operation. The changes in energization of the control windings 24 and 25 will not effect proportionate changes in the armature voltage of the generator 6 due to the saturation effects of the variable impedance device 22. While the device 22 is effective to maintain the voltage of the dynamo-electric machine i within a predetermined range of values or at a predetermined value under varying load conditions, the regulating action is stabilized to prevent hunting of the armature voltage of the machine 1. The auxiliary or neutral point anode I2 of electric valve means in also serves as a stabilizing means for the excitation system under varying load conditions.

In Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing there is diagrammatically shown an arrangement for controlling the conductivities of the discharge paths of electricvalve means iii in order to stabilize further the action of the variable impedance inductive device 22. The particular grid control system shown in Fig. 2 is disclosed and claimed in my divisional application Serial No.

. primary winding 31.

33 includes a saturable transformer 33 having a Primary winding 31, a secondary winding 33 with an electrically intermediate connection 33 and a control winding 43 to control the magnetization or saturation of the core structure thereof. A variable inductance 4| and a variable resistance 42 maybe connected in series relation with primary winding 31 of transformer 33 to control the phase of the alternating voltage impressed on It will be understood by those skilled in the art that I may employ any well known phase shifting arrangement, either manually operated or automatically operated, to control the phase of the alternating voltage impressed on the primary winding 31 of transformer 33 to effect control the energization of the field winding 3 of machine i under varying load conditions. An impedance element, such as a resistance 43, is connected in circuit with secondary winding 33 and the control members 33 and 34 of electric valve means "I. More particularly, the resistance 43 is connected between cathode l3 and the connection 39 of winding 38. As a means for controlling the energization of the control winding 40 of transformer 36 and as a means for supplying to resistance 43 a variable unidirectional current, I provide a transformer 44 and a unidirectional conducting device 45. A current controlling resistance 46 may be connected in series relation with a secondary winding of transformer 44 and unidirectional conducting device 45. The unidirectional conducting device 45 is arranged so that the voltage appearing across resistance 43 tends to impress on control members 33 and 34 of electric valve means [0 a negative unidirectional biasing potential to assist in the control of the conductivity of the associated discharge paths.

The operation of the stabilizing circuit shown in Fig. 2 will be explained by considering the system of Fig. 1 when the arrangement thereof is operating to control the voltage of the dynamo-electric machine I under variable load conditions. The alternating voltage impressed on control members 33 and 34 of electric valve means 10 is adjusted in phase by inductance 4| and resistance 42 so that the requisite amount of direct current is supplied to field winding 3 from armature winding 1 of generator 6 through electric valve means I 0. Upon increase of the armature current of dynamo-electric machine I, as explained above, the excitation system will respond to increase the value of direct current supplied to the field winding 3. The stabilizing arrangement of Fig. 2 will respond to prevent over-shooting or, in other words, to stabilize the regulating action of the variable impedance inductive device 22 of Fig. 1. When the impedance of winding 23 of inductive device 22 is decreased under these conditions, the voltage impressed on anodes H and I2 through conductors l4 and I5 will of course increase to effect an increase in the value of direct current transmitted to the field winding 3. By virtue of this increase in armature voltage of generator 6, the energization of control winding of transformer 36 will be increased to effect a re-' tardation in phase of the alternating voltage supplied by secondary winding 38. Furthermore, there will be an increase in the value of the unidirectional current supplied to the resistance 43 by transformer 44 and unidirectional conducting device 45 to increase the value of the negative unidirectional biasingpotential impressed on control members 33 and 34. These two effects, acting in conjunction, retard the voltage impressed on control members 33 and 34 relative to the armature voltages impressed on anodes II and I2 to decrease temporarily the conductivities of the associated arc discharge paths to limit the value of the direct current transmitted to field winding 3 of machine I. In this way the circuit 35 stabilizes the regulation of the excitation system. Oi. course, it is to be understood that when the load or armature current of dynamo-electric machine I decreases, the excitation system and the stabilizing circuit will respond to prevent the voltage of the dynamo-electric machine I from swinging below the predetermined value of armature voltage of the machine to be maintained. 7

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a particular system of connections and as embodying various devices diagrammatically shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

"What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. In an excitation'system for a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding and a field winding, the combination of an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between said armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto, and a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator to absorb variable. amounts of lagging quadrature current therefrom to control the voltage thereof.

2. In an excitation system for a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding and a field winding, the combination of an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between said armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto, a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator to control the voltage thereof, and means for controlling the impedance of said inductive device in accordance with a predetermined controlling infiuence derived from said dynamoelectric machine.

3. .In combination, an alternating current circuit, a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding connected to said alternating current circuit and a field winding, and an excitation system for said machine including an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between the armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto and a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator for controlling the energization of said field winding in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition of said alternating current circuit.

4. In combination, an alternating current circuit, a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding connected to said alternating current circuit and a field winding, and an excitation system for said field winding comprising an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between the armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto and a variable impedance inductive device including a winding connected acrossthe armature winding of said generator and a control winding for controlling the impedance thereof in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition of said alternating current circuit.

5. In combination, an alternating current circuit, a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding connected to said circuit and having a field winding, and an excitation system for controlling the energization of said field winding comprising an alternating current generator having an armature winding and means for controlling the energization of said field winding in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition of said alternating current circuit including a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator for absorbing variable amounts of lagging reactive current to control the voltage of said alternating current generator.

6. In an excitation system for a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding and a field winding, the combination of an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between the armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto, a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator to ing current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between the armature winding of said generator and said field winding for controlling the energization thereof, a variable impedance inductive device connected across the armature winding of said generator to control the voltage impressed on said electric valve means, and means for controlling the conductivity of said electric valve means in accordance with the voltage of the armature winding of said generator to stabilize the action of said variable impedance inductive device.

8. In combination, an alternating current generator having an armature winding and a field winding, a direct current circuit, an electric valve means connected between said armature winding and said direct current circuit for effecting energization thereof, a variable impedance inductive device connected across said armature winding for controlling the voltage of said generator by absorbing variable amounts of lagging current, and means for controlling said'variable impedance inductive device to control the current in said direct current circuit in accordance with a predetermined controlling influence.

9. In combination, an alternating current generator having an armature winding, a direct current circuit, an electric valve means connected between said armature winding and said direct current circuit for controlling the energization thereof, said electric valve means having a discharge path and a control member for controlling the conductivity thereof, a variable impedance inductive device connected across said armature winding for controlling the voltage thereof in accordance with a predetermined controlling influence, and an excitation circuit for energizing said control member to control the conductivity of said discharge path to stabilize the action of said variable impedance inductive device.

10'.' In combination, an alternating current generator having an armature winding and a field winding, a direct current circuit, an electric valve means connected between" said armature winding and said direct current circuit for effecting energization thereof, a variable impedance inductive device for controlling the voltage of said generator comprising a winding connected across said armature winding for absorbing variable amounts of lagging quadrature current, and means for controlling the impedance of said winding in accordance with a predetermined controlling influence.

11. In combination, an alternating current generator having an armature winding and a field winding, a direct current circuit, an electric valve means connected between said armature winding and said direct current circuit for effecting energization thereof, and a variable impedance inductive device for absorbing variable amounts of lagging quadrature current for controlling the voltage of said generator comprising a winding connected across said armature winding, a control winding tending to saturate said inductive device in accordance with the voltage of said armature winding and a second control winding tending to oppose the effect of said control winding in accordance with a predetermined controlling influence.

12. In an excitation system for a dynamo-electric machine of the synchronous type having an armature winding and a field winding, the combination of an alternating current generator having an armature winding, an electric valve means connected between the armature winding of said generator and said field winding for supplying direct current thereto, and a variable impedance inductive device for controlling the voltage of said generator comprising a core member, a winding connected across the armature winding of said generator for absorbing variable amounts of lagging quadrature current, a control winding energized in accordance with the voltage of said generator tending to saturate said core member and a second control winding opposing the efiect of said first mentioned control winding in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition of said dynamo-electric machine.

RICHARD Tabor-1R. 

